Chapter 3 - The Funeral Rehearsal
Upstairs, Victoria Moretti was already wearing black.
She stood in the grand drawing room before nearly thirty members of the Moretti family.
Her voice trembled perfectly.
“We don't yet have confirmation.”
Marco Bellini stood beside the fireplace.
“We found blood.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
Several relatives lowered their heads.
Marco continued.
“His vehicle was abandoned. His phone was destroyed.”
Adrian’s cousin Daniel stepped forward.
“Where are his bodyguards?”
“Two missing. One dead.”
“Who attacked him?”
Marco answered quickly.
“Probably the Marino crew.”
Daniel looked suspicious.
“Probably?”
Victoria touched his arm.
“This isn't the time.”
“What exactly is this the time for?”
Marco looked toward the assembled men.
“For continuity.”
Daniel laughed once.
“Adrian hasn't been dead an hour and you're discussing succession?”
“We cannot appear weak.”
Victoria spoke softly.
“Adrian would say the same thing.”
A voice from the doorway answered.
“No.”
Everyone turned.
Adrian Moretti stood there.
Bloodstained.
Pale.
One hand pressed against the doorframe.
Claire stood slightly behind him.
Noah held her hand.
Nobody moved.
Marco's face emptied.
Victoria whispered,
“Adrian?”
Adrian entered.
“You were saying?”
Victoria rushed toward him.
“Oh my God.”
Adrian lifted one hand.
“Stop.”
She froze.
“I thought you were dead.”
“So I heard.”
Marco reached beneath his jacket.
Adrian's security chief, Gabriel Rossi, stepped out from another doorway.
His gun was already drawn.
“Don't.”
Marco slowly raised both hands.
Adrian looked at Gabriel.
“You weren't part of the vineyard search.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I was locked in the east security office.”
“By whom?”
Gabriel looked at Marco.
“Him.”
Murmurs spread through the room.
Victoria shook her head.
“This is madness.”
Adrian removed the memory card.
“Is it?”
Marco stared at Claire.
“Who is she?”
Claire answered.
“The person keeping him alive.”
Noah tugged Adrian’s coat.
“You said tell everybody.”
Adrian looked down.
“I remember.”
He handed the card to Gabriel.
“Play it.”
Victoria stepped forward.
“Adrian, don't.”
Gabriel inserted the card into the room's media console.
Victoria’s recorded voice filled the mansion.
“If Adrian survives the first shot, Marco will finish it.”
Faces turned toward her.
Then came Marco’s response.
“What about the staff?”
“Witnesses are unfortunate.”
Victoria backed away.
“That's fabricated.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“It's your voice.”
“Technology can fake anything.”
Adrian almost smiled.
“Convenient.”
Marco suddenly moved.
He grabbed Daniel and pulled a pistol.
People shouted.
“Back!”
Gabriel raised his weapon.
Marco pressed the gun against Daniel’s side.
“Everybody back!”
Adrian remained still.
Marco looked at him.
“You should have died in the vineyard.”
There it was.
The room went silent.
Victoria closed her eyes.
Adrian said quietly,
“Thank you.”
Marco blinked.
“For what?”
“Confirming the recording.”
Marco realized what he had done.
Too late.
Claire pulled Noah behind her.
Adrian looked at Gabriel.
“Get them out.”
Marco shouted.
“Nobody moves!”
Then Noah's small voice came from behind Claire.
“You’re loud.”
Marco looked toward him.
That tiny distraction was enough.
Daniel slammed his elbow backward.
Gabriel moved.
Within seconds Marco was on the floor, disarmed.
No shots fired.
Victoria turned toward the doors.
Two security officers blocked them.
Adrian looked at her.
“You raised me.”
Victoria’s composure finally cracked.
“I protected you.”
“You ordered my death.”
“You destroyed everything your father built.”
“I rebuilt what he left.”
“You changed the rules.”
“Yes.”
“You weakened this family.”
“No.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“I stopped letting people like you decide that cruelty was strength.”
Victoria stared at Noah.
“That child has no place here.”
Claire stepped between them.
“Don't look at my son.”
Adrian’s voice became colder.
“She’s right.”
Victoria looked at him.
“Adrian—”
“You tried to erase witnesses.”
“No.”
“You tried to erase me.”
He turned to Gabriel.
“Call federal counsel. Call the state police liaison. Nobody leaves.”
Victoria stared at him in disbelief.
“You'd involve police?”
May you like
Adrian looked around the room.
“This family changes tonight.”
